Skirt



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM HEPPENS'IALL, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKIRT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 30,584, dated October 30, 1860; Reissued June 4, 1867, No. 2,634.

To all whom 'it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-IErrEN-- STALL, of Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Skirts; and I do hereby declare that the same is described and represented in the following specification and drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use the said improvement, I will proceed to describe its construction, referring to the drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature of this improvement in the manufacture of skirts consists in weaving into the selvage of the fabric, a waist-band, the warp threads of which are larger, and stronger than the threads which compose the filling, and larger than the other warp threads of the fabric, for the purpose of drawing up the cloth to form the waistband, and adapt it to the size of the wearer, together with weaving into the fabric openings for hoops, cords, or tape, whereby I am enabled to produce a skirt complete for use, and which is capable of being drawn at the waist to suit the wearer.

In order to explain more fully how my improvement is effected, I will refer to Figures l, 2, 3, 4, 5, of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l, is a view of this improvement in skirts completed. Fig. 2, is a view of a piece cut off from the length of the fabric as taken from the loom. Fig. 3, is an enlarged end view of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, and 5, show a side and edge view of Fig. 2, of the hoops, the lap of the hoops, and the manner of securing them, and to which I do not lay any claim as of my invention.

a, is the waist-band, or it is the selvage of the cloth or fabric, showing the ends of the larger and stronger threads, which compose the warp of the said waist-band, the object of which threads is to draw up the selvage a, to accommodate it to the waist of the wearer. Openings b, are also formed in the ordinary way for receiving the hoops 0, cord, or tape CZ.

o, shows the openings formed and interspersed at different intervals in the fabric, for the insertion of hoops, cord, or tape,

(and I propose sometimes to intersperse among the warp threads, more or less in number, through the entire width of the fabric, larger and stronger thread, and weaving them into, and making them a part of the fabric itself, so that they may be used for drawing the garment whendesirable). The remaining part of the cloth or fabric is closely woven, much in the ordinary way. The width of the fabric determines the length of the garment.

o, shows the end of the hoops.

(Z shows the end of the tape or cord, which are designed to be interspersed between the hoops-and sometimes without hoops.

e, shows the hooks and eyes, by which it is secured around the waist.

f, are the eye-let holes, to receive the hooks for taking up the band shorter.

By this method of weaving the fabric I am enabled to gather the cloth, or the waist, to adapt the waist-band to the size of the wearer, and after inserting the hoops c,-

cord, or tape CZ, I am enabled to adjust the extension and produce such prominence in its shape, and appearance as desired.

' By this improvement all objections brought against skeleton skirts are removed, and at the same time it affords all of the requisiteI qualities to produce extension, form, and shape, with that desirableness of style and taste to suit the most fastidious, and at the same time, they are much cheaper in the manufacture, more easily and rapidly made, with ordinary machinery, and cheaper help.

I have thus endeavored to show the nature of my invention, the method of its construction, and manufacture, and in doing so I have also endeavored to show the advantage to be derived therefrom to the public.

I do not claim weaving a fabric with open ings for the insertion of hoops, cord, or tape, nor do I claim weaving a fabric with draw strings as ordinarily used but What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a skirt constructed substantially as herein described.

WILLIAM HEPPENSTALL.

Witnesses:

EDWARD M. BLIss, JEREMY W. BLISS. 

